Always capitalise it.
Words to avoid
Try replacing these words in your writing with these Plain English Campaign approved alternatives.
Here are some commonly used words we don't generally use at Smart, and some suggestions for what to replace them with.
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This is how we refer to the account name a user signs in with.
We use adviser unless writing for a US audience, when it's advisor.
Sentence case.
Sentence case. Not "Annual statement".
We say "Guaranteed income (also know as an annuity)" in the first instance, and "guaranteed income" in all other instances. The exception to this is if we're referring to a specific annuity product – in which case we would say "annuity".
Two words, no hyphen. Enrolment should have two L's (enrollment) if writing for a US audience.
Not BACS. Full name is Bacs Payment Schemes Limited.
As in 'request your pension breakdown’.
Our preferred CTA for cancelling an action.
In running copy or headings use "charges" and avoid "fees". For example, don’t use "Our charges and fees" in a heading when "Our charges" does the job.
The exception is when referencing the specific name of a charge, such as "Monthly flat fee" - a charge applied to Smart Pension Master Trust members.
We say:
“Monthly flat fee – we charge this fee to cover the time spent and technology used in administering your pension. If you no longer contribute to your Smart Pension account and your savings are worth less than £100, we won’t charge this fee.”
For Annual Management Charge, we say:
“Annual Management Charge (AMC) – we charge a small amount as a percentage of your investments each month for managing and investing your pension. Some investments have extra operating costs which we add to the AMC. This total charge is called the Total Expense Ratio (TER).”
Our preferred CTA for continuing an action.
In the first instance on a page or document style as "Coronavirus (COVID-19)" at the beginning of a sentence, or "coronavirus (COVID-19)" in the middle of a sentence. In any further instances, just say "coronavirus".
How we refer to our customer service department ("If you need help, our customer support team is happy to help")
Technical term for a very small pension pot. Translated from Latin the term means "pertaining to minimal things".
Not 'de minimus'. Use sparingly.
Always a small 'r', even if forming part of a name like the Smart De-risking Fund.
Not dependant.
It's a proper noun and needs to be capitalised.
We say "flexible income (income drawdown)" in the first instance, and "flexible income" after this. An exception is when referring to the legal or financial process of drawdown – in this instance, say "drawdown" (for example, "your pension fund is now in drawdown").
For example, "please can I have your email address so I can email you that document" or "I received your email at my email address."
Lower case.
One word, not two.
Should be capitalised as it's a proper noun – it's a service offered by Pay.UK.
Not forename.
Smart Retire's drawdown pot. Sentence case.
Should always be written out in full, not eg or e.g.
Should only be used to refer specifically to investment funds. For a sum of money in a scheme/pot use "pension savings" and not "pension funds".
Only capitalise the word "fund" if it forms part of a proper noun (name). For example, "Your savings are divided up between four funds, including the Smart Sharia Fund and the Smart Future Fund".
Not glidepath, glide-path or Glide Path.
Refers to how a user's savings, when using an investment strategy managed by the pension provider, are moved into different investments the closer the user is to their nominated retirement age. This is often done to reduce risk.
The full definition is in progress. This term is used rarely in client-facing comms. This may change in early 2023.
Remember that glidepath is all one word, not glide path.
Lowercase G. For example, "In a series of indicative votes, the UK government failed to find a consensus on Brexit."
We say "Guaranteed income (also known as an annuity)" in the first instance, and "guaranteed income" in all other instances. The exception to this is if we're referring to a specific annuity product – in which case we would say "annuity".
Capitalised as a proper noun, according to the way that gov.uk uses it.
A pot in Smart Retire where the user can set aside some money to leave to loved ones or a charity when they die. Write it in sentence case.
A pre-built investment offering available to our members instead of choosing their own funds. You can say "pre-built investment strategy" if you'd like. We never say "model strategy" or "model investment strategy".
As per how they refer to themselves. Space before the last name. Not JPMorgan or JP Morgan or J.P.Morgan.
Not surname or second name.
A pot in Smart Retire where a user can leave some money to pay for an annuity. Sentence case.
Avoid unless put in context. For example, "Learn more about the later life pot". If you have to use learn more/find out more anchor text, make sure the link is correctly tagged for screen readers.
Not life time allowance or Lifetime Allowance.
Don't use. Use "sign in" instead.
Don't use. Use "sign out" instead.
(as in "please provide your login details) Don't use. Use "account details" instead.
Two separate words. In a sentence it is written as "master trust" as it is not a proper noun. Only use capitals if the two words for part of a brand name, for example, the Smart Pension Master Trust.
The Money Purchase Annual Allowance is the amount of pension contributions you get tax relief on if you have already started taking an income from a defined contribution pension.
We write it out in title case in the first instance, followed by the acronym in brackets – "Money Purchase Annual Allowance (MPAA)". Further instances on the same page can be expressed as an acronym only.
Title case as it's a proper noun.
Not 'okay' or 'ok'.
All one word.
No hyphen.
It's an acronym for Payroll and Pension Data Interface Standard. So not papdis or Papdis.
Not pass word.
Generally, try to avoid ‘pension pot’. Instead refer to money held with Smart as ‘pension savings’. You can see how to use 'pension savings' in the entry below.
Smart Retire has ‘pots’. Someone who joins Smart Retire can split their pension savings between four pots, each designed to meet a different need in retirement. These are called the flexible income pot, later life pot, rainy day pot and inheritance pot.
To refer to money held with Smart. Not "pension funds". Always use "pension savings" in the first instance. You can refer to them as "your savings" from then on if appropriate.
Not telephone.
Not telephone number.
Not post code.
A pot in Smart Retire where a user can set aside money for emergencies. Write in sentence case.
For example, "re-enter your password".
No hyphen.
SAVA is the name of Smart's virtual assistant.
SAVA uses she/her pronouns.
We always use upper case for her name as it is an acronym for Smart's Avatar Virtual Assistant.
Her name is pronounced the same as the word “saver”.
To refer to money held with Smart. Not "funds". Always use "pension savings" in the first instance. You can refer to them as "your savings" thereafter if appropriate.
Use set up as a verb and setup as a noun. Don't use setup as an adjective.
Not log in.
Not log out.
Use sentence case unless it forms the name of a specific single employer trust. You can follow the first instance with the acronym in brackets – "Single employer trust (SET)" and use the acronym for further instances if you would like.
When talking about the company.
Two words.
Name of Smart Pension's master trust. Capitalise the M and the T.
Two words.
Call to action for the beginning of a process.
Capitalise.
Hyphenated.
We always say "The US". Not "USA", "America", "U.S." or any other variation.
Lower case "t" at the beginning, unless it is at the beginning of a sentence.
The former is a noun and the latter is an adverb. For example: Your up-to-date statement is kept up to date.
All one word, not 'user name'. Some usernames are email addresses, but not all.
One word, no hyphen in the UK and Australia. Hyphenated (well-being) in the US and the rest of the world.
Sentence case, no hyphen, two separate words. For example, "we are selling white label partnerships".
Sentence case. Not a proper noun. No hyphen. For example, "check your wifi connection"
Not capitalised. For example, "If you make a will you can also make sure you don’t pay more Inheritance Tax than you need to".
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Instead of using the term prior to use the term before instead
Instead of using the term proceed use the term go ahead instead
Instead of using the term procure use the term get, obtain, arrange instead
Instead of using the term profusion of use the term plenty, too many (or say how many) instead
Instead of using the term prohibit use the term ban, stop instead
Instead of using the term projected use the term estimated instead
Instead of using the term prolonged use the term long instead
Instead of using the term promptly use the term quickly, at once instead
Instead of using the term promulgate use the term advertise, announce instead
Instead of using the term proportion use the term part instead
Instead of using the term provide use the term give instead
Instead of using the term provided that use the term if, as long as instead
Instead of using the term provisions use the term rules, terms instead
Instead of using the term proximity use the term closeness, nearness instead
Instead of using the term purchase use the term buy instead
Instead of using the term pursuant to use the term under, because of, in line with instead
Instead of using the term qualify for use the term can get, be able to get instead
Instead of using the term reconsider use the term think again about, look again at instead
Instead of using the term reduce use the term cut instead
Instead of using the term reduction use the term cut instead
Instead of using the term refer to use the term talk about, mention instead
Instead of using the term referred to as use the term called instead
Instead of using the term regarding use the term about, on instead
Instead of using the term regulation use the term rule instead
Instead of using the term reimburse use the term repay, pay back instead
Instead of using the term reiterate use the term repeat, restate instead
Instead of using the term relating to use the term about instead
Instead of using the term remain use the term stay instead
Instead of using the term remainder use the term the rest, what is left instead
Instead of using the term remittance use the term payment instead
Instead of using the term remuneration use the term pay, wages, salary instead
Instead of using the term render use the term make, give, send instead
Instead of using the term represent use the term show, stand for, be instead
Instead of using the term request use the term ask, question instead
Instead of using the term require use the term need, want, force instead
Instead of using the term requirements use the term needs, rules instead
Instead of using the term reside use the term live instead
Instead of using the term residence use the term home, where you live instead
Instead of using the term restriction use the term limit instead
Instead of using the term retain use the term keep instead
Instead of using the term review use the term look at (again) instead
Instead of using the term revised use the term new, changed instead
Instead of using the term said/such/same use the term the, this, that instead
Instead of using the term scrutinise use the term read (look at) carefully instead
Instead of using the term select use the term choose instead
Instead of using the term settle use the term pay instead
Instead of using the term similarly use the term also, in the same way instead
Instead of using the term solely use the term only instead
Instead of using the term specified use the term given, written, set instead
Instead of using the term state use the term say, tell us, write down instead
Instead of using the term statutory use the term legal, by law instead
Instead of using the term subject to use the term depending on, under, keeping to instead
Instead of using the term submit use the term send, give instead
Instead of using the term subsequent to/upon use the term after instead
Instead of using the term subsequently use the term later instead
Instead of using the term substantial use the term large, great, a lot of instead
Instead of using the term substantially use the term more or less instead
Instead of using the term sufficient use the term enough instead
Instead of using the term supplement use the term go with, add to instead
Instead of using the term supplementary use the term extra, more instead
Instead of using the term supply use the term give, sell, delivery instead
Instead of using the term terminate use the term stop, end instead
Instead of using the term that being the case use the term if so instead
Instead of using the term the question as to whether use the term whether instead
Instead of using the term thereafter use the term then, afterwards instead
Instead of using the term thereby use the term by that, because of that instead
Instead of using the term therein use the term in that, there instead
Instead of using the term thereof use the term of that instead
Instead of using the term thereto use the term to that instead
Instead of using the term thus use the term so, therefore instead
Instead of using the term to date use the term so far, up to now instead
Instead of using the term to the extent that use the term if, when instead
Instead of using the term transfer use the term change, move instead
Instead of using the term transmit use the term send instead
Instead of using the term ultimately use the term in the end, finally instead
Instead of using the term unavailability use the term lack of instead
Instead of using the term undernoted use the term the following instead
Instead of using the term undersigned use the term I, we instead
Instead of using the term undertake use the term agree, promise, do instead
Instead of using the term uniform use the term same, similar instead
Instead of using the term unilateral use the term one-sided, one-way instead
Instead of using the term unoccupied use the term empty instead
Instead of using the term until such time use the term until instead
Instead of using the term utilisation use the term use instead
Instead of using the term utilise use the term use instead
Instead of using the term variation use the term change instead
Instead of using the term virtually use the term almost (or edit out) instead
Instead of using the term visualise use the term see, predict instead
Instead of using the term ways and means use the term ways instead
Instead of using the term we have pleasure in use the term we are glad to instead
Instead of using the term whatsoever use the term whatever, what, any instead
Instead of using the term whensoever use the term when instead
Instead of using the term whereas use the term but instead
Instead of using the term whether or not use the term whether instead
Instead of using the term with a view to use the term to, so that instead
Instead of using the term with effect from use the term from instead
Instead of using the term with reference to use the term about instead
Instead of using the term with regard to use the term about, for instead
Instead of using the term with respect to use the term about, for instead
Instead of using the term with the minimum of delay use the term quickly (or say when) instead
